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7 Mardi Gras Party Ideas for Big, Easy Fun

Are you stumped when it comes to your Mardi Gras party ideas? We’ve got you covered, from start to finish. Let us take care of any and all Mardi Gras food ideas for your party. You just sit back, relax, and have fun decorating a Mardi Gras mask with feathers, sparkles, you name it! We’ve even got the perfect Mardi Gras party favor picked. See, we told you we had it all under control.

mardi gras beads purple green gold

(Photo Credit: Getty Images)

1. Add happy hues to your celebration.

The traditional Mardi Gras colors are purple, which symbolizes justice; green to represent faith; and gold for power. To incorporate them into your celebration, party pro Michelle Stewart suggests hot-gluing beaded necklaces in all three hues ($14 for 144, OrientalTrading.com) around foam cones or glass jars and displaying them on tabletops.

mardi gras mask with feathers

(Photo Credit: Getty Images)

2. Set the table with glitzy touches.

Colorful masks are a must for any Mardi Gras celebration — and they also double as a party favor! Simply decorate place settings with store-bought masks (like Sequin Masquerade Eye Masks, $6.99 for six, PartyCity.com) or have guests make their own for a fun party activity. To do: Purchase plain white masks ($8.49 for 12, Amazon) and offer up a selection of feathers, glitter, rhinestones, beads, and markers. Then have guests sit down to create their own masterpieces.    

3. Keep them entertained with a themed playlist.

Bring a little bit of Bourbon Street to your party with mood-making music that’ll get guests into the groove! Enjoy 15 hours of tunes inspired by the celebration by searching for the “Mardi Gras” playlist on Spotify. Or play New Orleans native Harry Connick Jr.’s album Smokey Mary ($6.29, Amazon), which was named for a famous Mardi Gras float. 

crepe with powdered sugar, chocolate drizzle, and berries

(Photo Credit: Getty Images)

4. Try a traditional treat.

To whip up Mardi Gras crêpes, mix one cup of flour, 1/2 cup of milk, 1/2 cup of water, two eggs, and three tablespoons of melted butter in a blender. Refrigerate for one hour. Lightly oil a frying pan; heat over medium heat. Add 1/4 cup of batter; swirl around pan. Cook two minutes, flip and cook one minute more. Remove from pan, top with butter and sugar; fold in half.

champagne with a lemon twist

(Photo Credit: Getty Images)

5. Offer up a bubbly Southern sip.

Treat partygoers to a glass of New Orleans–style Champagne. To make, pour one part Southern Comfort into a flute and add a dash of Angostura bitters and four parts chilled Champagne. Optional: Give each cocktail extra flair with a lemon twist garnish. Just use a paring knife to cut a lemon peel into several strips. Roll each strip around your finger or the handle of a spoon or fork, squeezing to help the twist hold its shape. Drop into a drink. 

king cake for mardi gras

(Photo Credit: Getty Images)

6. Sweeten the day with a King Cake.

Refrigerated cinnamon roll dough is the key to making this treasured Mardi Gras cake! To do: Roll dough into a log shape; place in a greased round cake pan, creating a wreath shape. Bake per dough instructions. Let cool; insert a baby figurine ($7.38 for 60, Amazon) in the bottom of the cake. Frost with icing and colored sugar. The guest who gets the baby in their slice is “King” of the party!

homemade popcorn seasoning

(Photo Credit: Getty Images)

7. Send them home with an easy Creole snack.

The ultimate Mardi Gras party favor? Popcorn seasoned with a classic Creole spice blend. To make the seasoning, combine 2 1/2 tablespoons of paprika, two tablespoons of garlic powder, two tablespoons of salt, one tablespoon of ground black pepper, one tablespoon of dried oregano, one tablespoon of dried thyme, and one tablespoon of cayenne. Sprinkle the seasoning over air-popped popcorn and pour into paper treat bags.

This article originally appeared in our print magazine. 

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